Wednesday, April 10, 2013

BRINGING HOME THE BACON

As Kun Aguero shot across the edge of the 18-yard box with three United
defenders in his wake, it was hard not to think of Diego Maradona in his
pomp.
That low centre of gravity, the pumping oak-tree thighs, the hapless
defenders hanging onto his slipstream like jettisoned threads of cloud,
the staggering run, off balance, but still too good, too strong, too
fast. Away goes the shot.
-- Aguero fires in the winner-- Mancini delighted -- Martin: City pride restoredAnd not just any shot, a weak contact, a flap nor a poke. No, a
full-blooded smack, rising off his right boot as he tumbles, rising
still as it passes David De Gea's outstretched hand, rising still as it
hits the top of the net. A magnificent physical feat from a player not
yet deemed fit enough to start a game of this importance. It was quite a
sight.
And it was the least City deserved from a performance of raw
tenacity and great togetherness in their 2-1 win at Old Trafford Monday.
Every single player in sky blue put in a mighty shift. Not a man was
left needing to be urged on.
At the heart of everything, the magnificent Gareth Barry. Castigated
for his comedy own-goal at Southampton, deemed past his sell-by date by
the knee-jerk brigade, Barry made the whole show tick. Beyond the
expected close passing, timely tackling, closing down, shuffling and
shunting, he managed to notch the unlikely statistic of the player who
made the most dribbles too! Absolutely magnificent.
Alongside him, James Milner matched him pace for pace. The
Yorkshireman never stopped running, was full of invention and eager into
the tackle when needed. If Barry and Milner deserve to be mentioned
first, it is perhaps because they are the water carriers in this stellar
eleven.